‘Markets are not closing’

Published:14:51Thursday 14 July 2011

I AM a trader on Castleford, Normanton, Featherstone and Pontefract markets and I would like to take this opportunity to inform the Express and its readers that all the markets are open for business as normal.

Yes the markets at Normanton, Featherstone, South Elmsall and Hemsworth are under review as such and Wakefield Council has been given permission to look at alternative ways to operate these markets but they are all open as normal and will remain so for the forseeable future.

Many of my customers have read the recent articles in the Express and they are continually asking ‘when are you closing’ or ‘why is the market closing’ and I have to tell them all that we are not closing down anytime soon and that the council are not kicking us off bit simply making changes to the way in which they operate services and that includes the markets.

The council staff responsible for markets have been exemplary and we’ve had several meetings with them and are in constant dialogue with them looking at ways we keep open the markets at threat and improve the markets at Castleford, Pontefract, Wakefield and Ossett for both customers and traders.